The National Audit Office (NAO) said current plans for prison capacity were "insufficient to meet future demand" amid a projected shortage of 12,400 places by the end of 2027, with costs expected to be at least £4bn higher than initially estimated.
HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has so far created a third (6,518) of the places in England and Wales it committed in 2021 to deliver by the mid-2020s under the Tories.
Expansion plans in the prison estate are expected to cost between £9.4bn and £10.1bn, which auditors said would be at least £4.2bn more than previous estimates.
The findings, which have been labelled unacceptable by the Tory chair of parliament's spending watchdog, come weeks after the justice secretary, Shabana Mahmood, enacted an early release scheme that freed up 5,500 prison spaces.
Denne historien er fra December 04, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra December 04, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Arsenal hold Rosicky talks over sporting director role
Tomas Rosicky is a leading contender to become Arsenal's sporting director, although any return to his former club would probably be put on hold until the end of the season.
United Ponder January Sales Club Open to Mainoo and Højlund Offers
Manchester United will listen to serious offers for any of Ruben Amorim's squad, including Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund, who were previously deemed untouchable.
Cunha ban cut for offering to buy victim new glasses
Matheus Cunha had a ban for scuffling with an Ipswich staff member reduced after the Wolves forward offered to buy the man a new pair of glasses.
Isak and Gordon pounce to put Newcastle firmly in driving seat
The irony will surely not be lost on Mikel Arteta. On a night when his side were hoping to put one foot in the Carabao Cup final, it was Alexander Isak - a striker that the Arsenal manager has long coveted - who did the damage as Newcastle secured a famous victory.
Liverpool have not stolen a single point, claims Slot
Arne Slot believes Liverpool have shown they possess the quality and depth to sustain a quadruple challenge and avoid the tail-off that Jürgen Klopp's side had last season.
Postecoglou backs Son and says even Salah would struggle at Spurs
Manager points to lack of creativity in team as reason for South Korean's poor form
Tesla, Twitter ... and the Reds? Musk eyes deal
The father of the world's richest man, Elon Musk, claims his son would be interested in buying Liverpool.
Transfer roundup Palace and Ipswich battle for £20m Doak
Crystal Palace and Ipswich are set to test Liverpool's resolve to keep Ben Doak by making improved bids worth £20m for the Scotland forward.
Everton owners right to be looking at manager options, says Dyche
Sean Dyche has said Everton's new owners should be exploring managerial options because he has not won enough games this season to keep the pressure off.
Lopetegui in limbo as Potter demand stalls Hammers deal
Julen Lopetegui is in limbo after West Ham's move to replace their manager stalled over Graham Potter's demand for a two-and-a-half-year contract.
